Assessing the acceptability of technological health innovations in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review and a best fit framework synthesis

Abstract

Acceptability is a key concept used to analyze the introduction of a health innovation in a specific setting. However, there seems to be a lack of clarity in this notion, both conceptually and practically. In low and middle-income countries, programs to support the diffusion of new technological tools are multiplying. They face challenges and difficulties that need to be understood with an in-depth analysis of the acceptability of these innovations. We performed a scoping review to explore the theories, methods and conceptual frameworks that have been used to measure and understand the acceptability of technological health innovations in sub-Saharan Africa. The review confirmed the lack of common definitions, conceptualizations and practical tools addressing the acceptability of health innovations. To synthesize and combine evidence, both theoretically and empirically, we then used the "best fit framework synthesis" method. Based on five conceptual and theoretical frameworks from scientific literature and evidence from 33 empirical studies, we built a conceptual framework in order to understand the acceptability of technological health innovations. This framework comprises 6 determinants (compatibility, social influence, personal emotions, perceived disadvantages, perceived advantages and perceived complexity) and two moderating factors (intervention and context). This knowledge synthesis work has also enabled us to propose a chronology of the different stages of acceptability.

Leveraging AI and Machine Learning to Develop and Evaluate a Contextualized User-Friendly Cough Audio Classifier for Detecting Respiratory Diseases: Protocol for a Diagnostic Study in Rural Tanzania

“…The findings of this study will have a range of social impacts. Although there is a lack of common definitions, conceptualizations and practical tools addressing the acceptability of technological health innovations in sub-Saharan Africa [ 55 ], an acknowledgment is made that social and cultural contexts have a significant impact on how humans behave both positively and negatively [ 56 ]. This is also the case when we are addressing the adaptation to new innovations among health care providers and community members.…”

Usia, Pendidikan, dan Penggunaan Aplikasi Kesehatan Berhubungan dengan Penerimaan Penggunaan Aplikasi Deteksi Penyakit Kronis

“…Individu dengan pengalaman pemanfaatan aplikasi kesehatan sebelumnya yang tinggi cenderung mampu mengelola penggunaan aplikasi kesehatan secara lebih terstruktur, dan toleransi terhadap teknologi baru, memerlukan kecakapan dan keterbukaan. Karenanya, adopsi inovasi yang dihadirkan pada aplikasi kesehatan, memerlukan eksplorasi dan adopsi teknologi kesehatan baru (Louart et al, 2023;Perski & Short, 2021).…”